Texas and Canadian Pharmacists, State Legislator, Align to Fight Importation of Internet Drugs

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Texas and Canadian Pharmacists, State Legislator, Align to Fight Importation of Internet Drugs

Texas Pharmacists Announce Launch of Campaign Warning Consumers Not to Waive Their Rights as Legislature Considers Importation Bills

AUSTIN, Texas, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the Texas legislature's consideration of two importation bills, The Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA), the Ontario Pharmacists' Association (OPA) and a state legislator gathered today to inform Texans about the dangers of drug importation. The TPA unveiled their new ad campaign entitled, "Waive Goodbye to Your Rights," and the newly created "Texas Pharmacy Patient Bill of Rights." The materials, which will be delivered to 1,200 pharmacies throughout Texas, are designed to make consumers aware of their rights as patients and alert them to the fact that they are signing away these rights when ordering drugs from foreign countries over the Internet."We want to convey the message to the citizens of Texas that buying drugs from foreign sources not only means jeopardizing your health, but also literally waiving your rights as a patient," said Eddie Klein, President of TPA. "Most people don't realize that when you purchase drugs from a foreign Internet pharmacy, you are forced to sign a waiver that gives away your rights as a consumer."

The TPA's ad highlights that citizens who are harmed by a medication bought through an Internet pharmacist from another country cannot get their money back on a failed medicine; have any legal recourse if harmed by the medication; obtain detailed information about the drugs they have ingested; or get reimbursed for subsequent health costs that may result from taking the wrong medicine.

To express Canada's perspective on the importation issue, the TPA invited their Canadian colleagues, the OPA, to share their concerns about the effect drug importation will have on the Canadian health care system and its consumers. "American politicians are using drug importation as a panacea for the ills of their country's health care system," said Marc Kealey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Pharmacists' Association, which represents pharmacists in Canada's largest province. "Importation programs, like the ones being considered in Texas, could increase the cost of prescription drugs in Canada and result in possible shortages for our citizens."

As part of the press conference, the TPA also introduced the "Texas Pharmacy Patient Bill of Rights," designed to educate Texans about their rights as consumers. The TPA has repeatedly questioned the safety of Internet pharmacies that force customers to sign waivers before purchasing their medicines and has pointed out that patients are not asked to waive their legal or medical rights when purchasing medications from a licensed Texas pharmacy. Among the specific rights set out in the Texas Pharmacy Patient Bill of Rights are:

* Right to FDA approved drugs
* Right to state government that stands behind what it recommends to citizens
* Right to law abiding pharmacies
* Right to pharmacists who stand behind what they dispense

A growing concern among pharmacists is that patients who import drugs are bypassing consultations with their local pharmacist. "One of the great advancements in health care over the last decade has been the implementation of aggressive drug utilization reviews that guard against people suffering negative reactions from mixing inappropriate medications," said pharmacist and State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, R.Ph. "Unfortunately, when people order their medications through the Internet, this safeguard does not exist. It is a health risk Texans should not be taking. I commend the work of the TPA and their efforts to educate Texas consumers about this important issue."

With the recent admission that a popular Canadian Internet Pharmacy, CanaRx, is considering importing its drugs from India, opponents of importation believe their worst fears have been confirmed. "Despite assurances that patients' medications are coming from Canada, consumers have no way to verify the source of their drugs when they order them over the Internet," said Marv Shepherd, PhD, Director of Pharmacoeconomic Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. "I'm sure people who import drugs from CanaRx's Web site thought they would be getting their drugs from Canada, but in reality they may be importing them from countries all over the world, possibly India, which has one of the most counterfeit-ridden drug supplies in the entire world."

In light of this recent news, pharmacists and their supporters urged the legislature to reject the proposed bills to license Canadian pharmacies because even the consideration of legislation sends the mistaken impression that some importation is safe.

People wishing to receive a copy of the "Waive Goodbye to Your Rights" ad or the "Texas Pharmacy Patient Bill of Rights" should visit their local community pharmacy or contact the Texas Pharmacy Association at 512-836-8350.

The mission of the Texas Pharmacy Association is to promote the profession of pharmacy through advocacy, communication, and education. The objective of the TPA is to promote the profession of pharmacy; to encourage and enable pharmacists to build and maintain innovative pharmacy practices that meet the healthcare needs of their patients, and improve patient outcomes and public health; and to work to integrate pharmacists as vital members of the healthcare team.

The Ontario Pharmacists' Association, an 86-year-old voluntary organization representing the views of 10,000 Pharmacists, advocates for the profession of pharmacy and quality care and well being of the people of Canada's largest province. The OPA works to support expanding the role of pharmacists to improve the health of all Ontarians. OPA provides a wide range of professional services and educational programs for its members and works closely with government and other health care providers.

Source: Texas Pharmacy Association